2006-08-09
The Impact of Festivals on Cultural Tourism
Today festivals are considered to contribute significantly to the cultural and economic development wealth of the United Kingdom. The festivals have major impact on the development of cultural tourism to the host communities. The festival organisers are now using the historical and cultural themes to develop the annual events to attract visitors and creating cultural image in the host cities by holding festivals in the community settings. The desire for festivals and events is not specifically designed to address the needs for any one particular group. The hosting of events are often developed because of the tourism and economic opportunities addition to social and cultural benefits. Many researchers have contested that local communities plays vital role in development of tourism through festivals.
Events have the potential to generate a vast amount of tourism when they cater to out of-region visitors, grants, or sponsorships, (Getz, 1997) of direct or indirect intent. The government now support and promote events as part of their strategies for economic development, nation building and cultural tourism. The events in turn are seen as important tool for attracting visitors and building image within different communities. According to Stiernstrand (1996), the economic impact of tourism arises principally from the consumption of tourism products in a geographical area. According to McDonnell, Allen and O Toole (1999), tourism related services, which include travel, accommodation, restaurants, shopping are the major beneficiaries of the event.
Events have the potential to generate a vast amount of tourism when they cater to out of-region visitors, grants, or sponsorships, (Getz, 1997) of direct or indirect intent. The government now support and promote events as part of their strategies for economic development, nation building and cultural tourism. The events in turn are seen as important tool for attracting visitors and building image within different communities. According to Stiernstrand (1996), the economic impact of tourism arises principally from the consumption of tourism products in a geographical area. According to McDonnell, Allen and O Toole (1999), tourism related services, which include travel, accommodation, restaurants, shopping are the major beneficiaries of the event.
As far as events and tourism is concerned, the roles and responsibilities of governments as well private sector and society in general have significantly changed over the last decade. The situation have been changed where the state had the key responsibility for tourism development and promotion to a world where the public sector is obliged to reinvent itself by relinquishing of its traditional responsibilities and activities in favour of both provincial/ state and local authorities. This indicates the growing influence on the behaviour of governments and business in general of development of event and tourism industries. This suggests that festivals impact on the host population and stakeholders in a number of ways. These factors are primarily concerned with social and cultural, physical and environmental, political and economic impacts, and can be both positive and negative.
This paper initially reviews literature related to the cultural tourism and the role of festivals in the creation of opportunities for community orientated events and festivals which contrast with tourist orientated events which have tenuous links with local communities. Moreover, paper will argue that community based events and festivals provide an opportunity for the celebration of local identity and community empowerment and create tourism for the local area.
The case studies within this paper explore the development of cultural tourism and multi-cultural festivals and events with the UK, and the positive contribution that these events play in solidifying community relations with development of the cultural tourism.
To read the whole article:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ttri/pdf/conference/raj%20razaq.pdf
This paper initially reviews literature related to the cultural tourism and the role of festivals in the creation of opportunities for community orientated events and festivals which contrast with tourist orientated events which have tenuous links with local communities. Moreover, paper will argue that community based events and festivals provide an opportunity for the celebration of local identity and community empowerment and create tourism for the local area.
The case studies within this paper explore the development of cultural tourism and multi-cultural festivals and events with the UK, and the positive contribution that these events play in solidifying community relations with development of the cultural tourism.
To read the whole article:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ttri/pdf/conference/raj%20razaq.pdf
Author: Razaq Raj
Senior Lecturer
Uk Centre for Events Management, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Leeds Metropolitan University
Senior Lecturer
Uk Centre for Events Management, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Leeds Metropolitan University
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